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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 

CHAMPAIGN,  MARCH,  1894. 


BULLETIN  NO.  30. 


Blackberries  and  Raspberries,  Variety  Tests,  and  Management 


Experiment   No.  43.     Blackberries,    Test  of  Varieties. 

The  first  of  the  blackberries — Snyder,  Erie,  Early  king,  Missouri 
mammoth,  Wilson's  early,  Wilson  Jr.,  and  Minnewaska — were  planted 
in  the  spring  of  1889.  Of  the  others  described  in  this  bulletin — Wa- 
chusett  thornless,  Early  cluster,  and  Freed,  were  planted  in  1891,  and 
the  rest  in  1892.  The  varieties  are  each  in  a  single  row,  and,  where 
enough  plants  were  obtained,  the  row  is  four  rods  long,  25  plants  being 
set  in  the  four  rods.  Those  planted  in  1892  have  not  been  out  long 
enough  to  form  an  accurate  estimate  of  them. 

Part  of  the  land  is  low  and  apparently  of  a  character  not  suited  to 
the  blackberry.  The  test  on  that  account  is  not  so  reliable  as  it  would 
otherwise  be.  The  land  is  well  drained  with  tile,  so  that  the  lowest 
ground  is  the  first  that  is  fit  for  cultivation  in  spring.  The  surface,  on 
exposure  to  the  weather  during  winter,  becomes  finely  pulverized  and 
looks  almost  like  ashes.  If  this  land  is  turned  up  to  a  depth  of  eight 
inches,  a  gummy  soil  is  thrown  on  top  that  breaks  into  larger  or  smaller 
angular  lumps  that  become  very  hard  on  drying  and  will  rattle  almost 
like  gravel  when  struck  with  a  hoe,  and  it  retains  that  character  all  sum- 
mer. By  the  next  spring  it  is  in  the  condition  that  the  previous  surface 
soil  was,  and  what  was  surface  soil  has  again  taken  on  the  gummy  and 
semi-crystalline  nature  of  the  subsoil.  The  plants  on  this  lower  ground 
have  not  grown  so  well  as  on  higher  land  of  a  different  character,  and 
the  fruit  has  dried  up  much  worse  during  the  drouths  of  summer. 
The  Snyders  during  the  severe  drouth  of  last  summer  were  not  near  so 

321 


322  BULLETIN    NO.    30.  \_Marck, 

large,  juicy ;  or  so  good  in  quality  on  this  low  land  as  they  were  on  higher 
ground  not  more  than  twenty  rods  away.  Under  otherwise  the  same 
conditions  78  of  the  berries  grown  on  the  higher  ground  weighed  as 
much  as  100  of  those  grown  on  the  low  ground.  The  Snyders  are  on 
the  lowest  ground  and  seem  to  have  been  most  affected.  All  those 
planted  the  first  season  would  undoubtedly  be  better  if  on  a  different 
soil. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  land  having  been  manured.  It  had  been 
in  meadow  and  pasture  for  several  years  previous  to  iSSS.  It  was 
broken  up  in  the  spring  of  that  year  and  allowed  to  lie  idle  until  planted 
to  blackberries  and  raspberries  in  1889. 

The  blackberries  have  never  had  any  mulch,  manure,  or  winter  pro- 
tection. They  have  had  thorough  level  cultivation  from  early  spring 
until  the  latter  part  of  summer.  The  plants  have  been  kept  closely  con- 
fined to  the  rows,  but  have  not  been  thinned  much  in  the  row,  probably 
not  so  much  as  would  have  been  best  for  the  production  of  good  fruit. 
The  new  shoots  have  been  pinched  back  when  about  2^2  feet  high  and 
have  had  no  further  pinching  or  pruning  until  the  following  spring, 
when  the  branches  or  laterals  thrown  out  after  pinching  have  been  cut 
back  to  from  one  to  two  feet  in  length.  This  is  a  method  of  thinning 
the  fruit  on  plants  that  are  liable  to  overbear.  Some  varieties,  as  the 
Snyder  and  Minnewaska,  will  frequently  bear  more  fruit,  with  even 
that  amount  of  cutting  back,  than  they  can  ripen  well,  while  some  of  the 
other  varieties  could  ripen  more  fruit  than  they  would  set,  even  if  they 
were  not  cut  back  at  all. 

There  is  a  natural  difference  in  the  hardiness  of  the  varieties  of 
blackberry.  In  those  tested,  Snyder  and  Minnewaska  have  seemed 
most  hardy,  and  Early  harvest  and  Crystal  white  least.  The  con- 
dition of  health  of  the  plant  will,  without  doubt,  make  a  difference  in  its 
ability  to  withstand  cold  as  well  as  other  unfavorable  conditions.  The 
Wilson's  early,  Wilson  Jr.,  and  Erie  have  so  far  been  most  subject  to 
disease. 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  VARIETIES. 

SNYDER. — Plant,  a  very  strong,  upright  grower,  not  branching  unless  tipped, 
stiff;  spines,  straight,  stiff,  not  numerous;  very  hardy.  Leaf  and  stem  comparatively 
free  from  disease.  The  young  shoot  usually  comes  from  the  side  of  the  old  cane,  and 
so  is  very  liable  to  break  down  with  the  load  of  fruit,  unless  the  row  is  somewhat 
ridged.  Berry,  large,  oblong,  glossy;  grain,  large;  seed,  very  large  and  firm.  The 
berry  colors  two  or  three  days  before  it  is  at  its  best  for  use,  and  is  usually  picked 
about  as  soon  as  well  colored.  It  is  then  sour,  has  a  hard  core,  and  has  not  attained 
nearly  its  full  size.  When  fully  grown  and  ripe  the  berry  is  sweet,  rich,  and  has  en- 
tirely lost  the  hard  core  which  it  had  only  two  days  before.  Cluster,  large  and  rather 
open. 

The  Snyder  is  grown  more  largely  than  any  other  variety,  and  is  deservedly 
popular  as  a  market  variety  in  the  same  sense  that  the  Ben  Davis  apple  is  popular.  It 
is  a  regular  and  very  heavy  bearer.  The  fruit  has  seemed  more  liable  to  dry  up  on 
the  bush  than  that  of  other  varieties,  perhaps  because  of  the  heavy  bearing. 


1894.]        BLACKBERRIES    AND   RASPBERRIES,   VARIETY   TESTS.  323 

The  Snyder  is  a  variable  variety,  but  whether  from  bud  variation  or  from  seed- 
ling plants  that  come  up  along  the  rows,  it  is  impossible  to  say.  For  the  past  two 
years  we  have  allowed  all  seedlings  that  appeared  in  the  rows  to  live  as  long  as  they 
would,  but  both  years  all  were  dead  before  the  middle  of  the  summer.  This,  how- 
ever, does  not  prove  that  numerous  seedlings  have  not  grown.  Some  difference  has 
been  found  in  the  appearance  of  the  fruit,  but  little  or  none  in  the  quality;  and  there 
has  been  frequently  a  difference  of  two  or  three  days,  in  one  instance  as  much  as  a 
week's  difference,  in  the  time  of  ripening. 

MINNEWASKA. — This  variety  has  been  obtained  from  two  sources  under  the  name 
of  "Ancient  Britton."  The  plant  is  a  good  grower,  erect,  branching,  strong;  stems, 
stiff,  sharply  angled,  and  very  thickly  covered  with  long,  straight  spines.  It  has  so 
far  seemed  perfectly  hardy;  leaf  and  stem,  free  from  disease.  The  cluster  of  fruit  is 
long,  compact,  and  very  full;  25  to  30  berries  in  each.  Berry,  large,  long,  dull  in 
color,  with  the  pistils  adhering  and  giving  the  fruit  a  hairy  appearance;  somewhat 
sour,  and  of  inferior  quality;  core,  rather  firm;  seed,  large.  Its  season  is  two  or  three 
days  later  than  Snyder.  This  has  been  the  most  productive  variety  grown  so  far. 
The  weight  of  the  fruit  frequently  makes  the  plant  hang  down  to  the  ground.  It  does 
not  suffer  so  much  from  drouth  as  the  Snyder,  and  would  seem  to  be  a  valuable  vari- 
ety for  market,  as  it  would  carry  well,  and  but  little  attention  is  usually  paid  to  any- 
thing more  than  the  fact  that  it  is  a  blackberry  in  good  shape. 

ERIE. — The  plant  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  growers;  cane,  upright  until  it 
reaches  a  height  of  two  or  three  feet,  then  growing  over  sideways,  not  very  strong; 
spine,  large  and  stiff.  More  subject  to  disease  than  the  Snyder.  Cane  somewhat 
subject  to  anthracnose,  and  the  lower  leaves  liable  to  be  attacked  by  a  brown  rust 
(Septoria  rttbi),  commonly  called  spot  disease,  that  causes  them  to  fall  early  in  the 
season.  Cluster,  of  medium  size,  8  to  10  berries.  Berry,  large  to  very  large,  smooth, 
glossy,  of  good  quality;  grain,  very  large;  seed,  large  and  firm;  core,  soft  when  fully 
ripe.  A  large  part  of  the  blossoms  fail  to  set  any  fruit,  and  many  of  the  berries  are 
very  imperfect.  The  variety  is  not  so  hardy  as  Snyder;  its  season  is  3  to  4  days 
later,  and  it  is  a  comparatively  shy  bearer  as  grown  here,  yielding  but  about  one-third 
as  much  as  the  Snyder  or  Minnewaska. 

WILSON  JR.,  AND  WILSON'S  EARLY. — As  grown  here  there  has  not  been  enough 
difference  in  these  two  varieties  to  separate  them. 

The  plant  has  been  a  good  grower,  with  drooping  stem  and  numerous  small,  re- 
curved spines.  The  stem  is  very  subject  to  anthracnose;  and  the  leaves  to  the  spot 
disease,  which  takes  them  off  below  before  the  fruit  has  begun  to  ripen.  The  plants  win- 
ter-kill and  would  need  protection  here  during  cold  winters.  Most  of  the  fruit  is 
borne  on  shoots  which  come  from  the  ground  the  same  year.  Not  more  than  one- 
half  the  blossoms  set  any  fruit,  and  most  of  that  is  very  imperfect.  The  perfect  ber- 
ries on  shoots  from  the  ground  are  of  largest  size;  the  others,  only  medium.  From 
our  experience  this  variety  is  entirely  unworthy  of  further  attention  here,  though  very 
flattering  reports  are  heard  from  it  in  other  places.  Plants  bought  for  "Stone' s  hardy," 
have  proved  to  be  the  same  as  these. 

MISSOURI  MAMMOTH. — Plant,  a  moderate  grower,  nearly  free  from  disease,  up- 
right; spine,  medium  size,  recurved.  Fruit,  cluster  of  medium  size,  with  8  to  10 
berries.  Blossoms  do  not  all  set  fruit,  and  some  of  the  berries  are  imperfect.  Berry, 
large,  oval,  fair  in  quality;  grain  and  seed,  large;  core,  soft  when  fully  ripe.  Its 
season  is  three  to  four  days  after  Snyder,  and  it  is  a  comparatively  shy  bearer.  It 
has  not  proved  entirely  hardy  and  could  not  be  recommended. 

WACHUSETT  THORNLESS. — The  plant  is  a  slow  grower;  stem  grows  upright  at 
first  but  soon  becomes  drooping;  spines,  few  and  small.  The  stem  is  very  subject 
to  anthracnose,  and  is  somewhat  liable  to  winter-kill.  The  leaf  is  subject  to  the 
brown  rust.  The  clusters  of  fruit  are  few  and  small,  six  to  ten  berries  in  each. 
Berry,  small,  round,  not  well  filled,  of  very  good  quality;  seed,  large.  Season,  about 


324  BULLETIN   NO.   30.  [March, 

one  week  later  than  Snyder.  This  is  the  poorest  bearer  among  the  blackberries  and 
not  worthy  of  a  place  anywhere. 

LOVETT'S.— The  cane  is  strong,  upright,  but  slightly  angled,  dark  purple,  very 
free  from  disease;  spines,  few  and  small;  leaf,  comparatively  healthy.  The  fruit  cluster 
is  small,  8  to  10  berries,  compact.  Berry,  rather  small,  round,  well  filled,  with  little 
core;  quality,  very  good  to  best.  The  seed  is  large  and  very  firm.  It  seems  to  be  a  very 
shy  bearer,  but  has  borne  one  crop  of  fruit  only  and  may  improve  with  age  as  some 
varieties  seem  to  do.  From  present  experience  it  could  not  be  recommended. 

KITTATINNY. — Plant,  an  upright,  rather  strong  grower;  stem  somewhat  subject 
to  anthracnose,  has  the  reputation  also  of  not  being  entirely  hardy,  and  of  being  sub- 
ject to  the  red  rust,  though  it  has  not  shown  the  latter  disease  here.  The  fruit  cluster 
is  large  and  open.  Berry,  large,  oblong,  glossy;  no  core  when  fully  ripe;  quality, 
very  good.  Its  season  is  the  same  as  Snyder.  It  is  not  so  apt  to  be  injured  by  the 
drouth  as  the  Snyder,  and  is  better  in  quality,  with  smaller  seeds.  It  is  a  moderate 
bearer.  It  could  not  be  recommended  for  general  planting. 

EARLY  KING. — The  plant  is  a  rather  small  grower,  erect,  stiff,  with  several  small 
canes  making  a  thick  clump  from  each  stool,  and  with  large  spines;  nearly  free  from 
disease  but  subject  to  winter-killing.  The  cluster  of  fruit  is  of  medium  size.  Berry, 
medium  size,  oval,  not  regular  in  shape,  not  promising  in  appearance,  but  one  of  the 
best  in  quality;  core,  soft.  It  attains  its  full  size  and  perfect  quality  as  soon  as 
colored.  Its  season  is  fully  a  week  earlier  than  Snyder.  It  yields  fairly  well,  is  not 
so  hardy  as  Snyder,  about  one-half  the  wood  being  killed  by  the  cold  of  1892-3,  when 
the  lowest  temperature  was  — 21^  °  F.  It  would  be  recommended  for  an  early  variety 
for  this  latitude. 

EARLY  HARVEST. — The  plant  is  a  moderate  grower,  upright,  with  some  tendency 
to  branch  without  tipping;  wood,  light  colored;  has  so  far  been  nearly  free  from 
disease,  but  is  one  of  the  most  tender  varieties  tested.  About  nine-tenths  of  the  wood 
was  killed  during  the  winter  of  1892-3.  Spines,  few  and  small.  Fruit  cluster,  medium 
size,  12  to  15  berries.  Berry,  small  to  medium  size,  oblong,  glossy,  smooth;  quality, 
very  good  to  best;  grain,  very  small;  seed,  small,  not  hard.  It  has  a  soft  core  when 
fully  ripe.  Its  season  is  about  ten  days  earlier  than  the  Snyder.  It  promises  to  be 
very  productive,  if  it  can  have  winter  protection,  and  its  season  and  quality  would 
make  it  valuable  for  home  use  or  market. 

LINCOLN. — The  plant  is  a  good  grower,  upright,  strong;  spine,  long  and  stout. 
It  has  so  far  been  entirely  free  from  disease.  The  fruit  cluster  is  large  and  rather 
open.  Berry,  large,  oblong,  glossy,  juicy,  of  good  quality;  grain  and  seed,  large. 
Its  season  is  3  or  4  days  later  than  Snyder.  It  seems  to  be  perfectly  hardy  here.  It 
has  not  been  planted  long  enough  to  come  into  full  bearing.  It  has  been  condemned 
in  some  places  where  tried  and  highly  praised  in  others. 

CRYSTAL  WHITE. — A  moderate,  upright  grower,  branching  readily  without  being 
tipped.  It  is  very  thorny,  and  the  canes  are  more  subject  than  in  most  varieties  to 
anthracnose.  This  is  a  very  tender  variety,  killing  back  worse  than  Early  harvest. 
The  fruit  cluster  is  small.  Berry,  small,  oblong,  white;  core,  soft;  taste,  pleasant, 
sweetish;  not  of  high  quality.  Its  season  is  somewhat  later  than  Snyder.  It  has  so 
far  been  a  very  shy  bearer,  and  would  be  of  no  value  except  as  a  curiosity. 

FREED. — The  plant  is  a  rank,  upright  grower,  has  few  spines,  is  very  hardy,  and 
has  been  free  from  disease.  The  fruit  cluster  is  rather  small.  Berry,  small  to 
medium  size,  oblong,  juicy;  quality,  very  good.  Its  season  is  nearly  the  same  as 
Snyder.  It  has  been  a  very  shy  bearer  and  is  not  recommended  for  any  purpose. 

EARLY  CLUSTER. — The  plant  is  a  medium  grower,  very  upright,  rather  slender, 
very  thorny.  The  stem  shows  some  anthracnose,  and  the  plant  is  not  entirely  hardy. 
The  fruit  cluster  is  small.  Berry,  small  to  medium,  nearly  round,  of  very  good 
quality;  core.  soft.  Its  season  is  nearly  the  same  as  Snyder.  The  fruit  does  not  set 
well  and  it  has  proved  to  be  a  very  shy  bearer.  It  is  not  worthy  of  recommendation. 


1894-]         BLACKBERRIES   AND  RASPBERRIES,   VARIETY   TESTS.  325 

JEWETT. — The  plant  is  a  moderate,  upright  grower,  with  a  few  small  spines. 
Cane,  not  entirely  hardy  and  more  subject  to  anthracnose  than  in  most  varieties. 
Fruit  cluster,  small.  Berry,  small,  round,  juicy,  sour,  with  a  hard  core  and  large 
seeds.  The  season  is  2  to  3  days  later  than  Snyder.  It  is  a  very  shy  bearer,  and 
could  not  be  recommended. 

LUCRETIA. — This  is  a  dewberry  and  does  not  grow  upright,  but  trails  on  the 
ground.  Stem,  small  and  slender;  spines,  few,  small,  recurved.  The  plant  is  some- 
what subject  to  anthracnose,  and  the  leaf  to  the  spot  disease.  Fruit  cluster,  large, 
open,  with  6  to  8  berries.  Berry,  very  large,  not  well  filled,  oblong,  sour,  and  poor 
in  quality  as  grown  on  our  soil;  core,  rather  firm.  Its  season  is  6  to  8  days  earlier 
than  the  Snyder.  From  our  experience  it  would  seem  almost  worthless,  but  it  has 
done  better  with  others  in  the  vicinity,  though  not  a  profuse  bearer  with  any.  In 
other  localities  it  is  highly  recommended  both  for  quality  and  productiveness.  It  seems 
to  be  of  more  value  in  the  southern  than  in  the  central  or  northern  part  of  the  state. 

Experiment  44..     Raspberries,    Test  of  Varieties. 

The  raspberries  were  planted  along  with  the  blackberries,  though 
none  of  them  in  the  low  ground  described  on  page  321.  The  plats,  as 
described  under  blackberries,  consist  each  of  a  single  row  four  rods  long, 
where  enough  plants  were  obtained  to  fill  out  so  much.  In  1889  t'le 
following  varieties  were  planted;  Cuthbert,  Turner,  Brandy  wine, 
Golden  queen,  Rancocos,  Early  pride,  Hansell,  Philadelphia,  Marlboro, 
Naomi,  Carman,  Springfield,  Gregg,  Mammoth  cluster,  Johnson's 
sweet,  Hilborn,  Shaffer's  and  Nemaha.  In  1890,  Hornet,  Hudson  River 
Antwerp^  Reliance,  Herstine,  Clarke,  American  black,  Palmer,  Mus- 
kingum,  and  Lovett's  black  were  planted;  and  in  1892,  Stayman's  No.  5, 
Kansas,  Caroline,  and  Crimson  beauty. 

The  cultivation  has  been  the  same  as  described  for  blackberries.  The 
new  shoots  of  the  black  -raspberries  are  tipped  when  from  2  to 
2J^  feet  high  and  are  then  allowed  to  grow  without  further 
pruning  until  the  spring  following,  when  they  are  cut  back,  leaving 
the  laterals  from  12  to  15  inches  long.  This  gives  a  compact  bush  that 
stands  well  without  support  of  any  kind.  We  have  made  it  a  practice, 
as  soon  as  the  fruiting  season  is  over,  to  take  out  all  the  bearing  wood. 
There  is  some  question  as  to  whether  or  not  this  is  the  best  plan.  A 
row  left  in  1892,  without  taking  out  the  old  wood  until  the  next  spring, 
yielded  more  fruit  than  those  on  each  side  of  it  from  which  the  old  wood 
was  removed  as  soon  as  the  fruit  was  off.  The  question  of  time  for 
taking  out  the  old  wood  is  now  undergoing  a  test  on  a  larger  scale  than 
last  year  and  more  definite  results  may  be  expected. 

The  red  raspberries  have  been  kept  in  close  rows,  with  some  thin- 
ning in  the  row.  The  plants  have  not  been  tipped  during  summer  but 
the  tallest  ones  have  been  cut  back  somewhat  early  in  the  spring. 

All  the  European  varieties  of  raspberries,  as  grown  here,  are  very 
subject  to  the  spot  disease  {Septoria  rubi}  of  the  leaves.  It  attacks 
the  older  leaves  first,  soon  causing  them  to  drop,  and  by  fall  many  of  the 
varieties  have  only  small  tufts  of  leaves  at  the  tops  of  the  new  canes. 


326  BULLETIN  NO.  30.  [March, 

Plants  so  diseased  are  very  likely  to  die  during  the  winter  or  before  the 
fruit  is  ripened  the  next  season.  The  Clarke  is  perhaps  as  free  from 
the  disease  as  any  of  them. 

The  American  red  raspberries  have  so  far  seemed  more  subject  to 
anthracnose  than  to  the  spot  disease,  the  canes  of  some  of  the  varieties 
being  so  badly  infested  as  to  render  them  almost  worthless.  Turner, 
Cuthbert,  and  Golden  queen  have  been  as  free  from  diseases  as  any 
of  the  red  raspberries. 

9 

DESCRIPTION  OF  VARIETIES. 
Black    Varieties. 

AMERICAN  BLACK. — The  plant  is  a  rather  small  grower,  and  is  very  subject  to 
anthracnose.  The  berry  is  small  and  often  imperfectly  filled,  not  juicy,  of  fair 
quality;  grain,  of  medium  size,  with  large  seeds.  The  records  show  it  to  have  been 
a  very  shy  bearer.  Its  season  is  about  2  or  3  days  earlier  than  Gregg.  It  could  not 
be  recommended. 

CARMAN. — The  plant  is  a  moderate  grower,  and  has  so  far  been  comparatively 
free  from  disease.  The  berry  is  of  medium  size,  juicy,  firm,  slightly  acid  but  of  good 
quality;  grain,  small;  seed,  small.  It  has  been  a  very  fair  bearer.  Its  season  is 
about  5  to  6  days  earlier  than  Gregg,  and  it  lasts  longer.  This  would  be  an  advantage 
in  a  berry  for  home  use,  but  not  in  one  for  market. 

GREGG. — The  plant  is  a  very  strong  grower,  is  hardy,  and  has  been  compara- 
tively free  from  disease.  The  berry  is  very  large,  firm,  not  juicy,  of  only  moderate 
quality.  The  bloom,  or  down,  gives  it  more  of  a  grayish  appearance  than  other  varie- 
ties have.  The  grain  is  large,  and  the  seed  very  large.  It  is  classed  as  a  late  variety, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  productive. 

The  Gregg  is  probably  grown  more  extensively  than  any  other  variety,  and,  like 
the  Snyder  blackberry,  seems  to  have  become  somewhat  variable.  There  will  fre- 
quently be  seen  a  difference  of  two  or  three  days  in  the  season  of  ripening,  and  some 
of  the  plants  bear  fruit  much  more  poorly  filled  than  others,  while  the  other  charac- 
ters of  the  plant  and  fruit  seem  the  same  as  the  typical  Gregg.  This  is  another  case 
in  which  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  or  not  the  variations  have  come  from  seed. 
The  attempt  is  making  to  see  whether  the  variations  can  be  perpetuated. 

CONRATH'S  EARLY. — The  plant  is  a  very  good  grower,  and  has  so  far  been  free 
from  disease.  The  berry  is  above  the  medium  size,  firm,  moderately  juicy;  quality, 
good.  The  grain  and  seed  are  of  medium  size.  Its  season  is  3  to  4  days  earlier  than 
Gregg.  It  is  not  so  productive  as  the  best  but  is  up  to  the  average.  This  is  a  new 
variety  not  yet  introduced. 

HILBORN. — The  plant  is  a  good  grower,  fairly  free  from  disease,  and  seems  quite 
hardy.  The  berry  is  of  medium  size,  rather  soft,  juicy,  very  good  in  quality;  grain, 
of  medium  size;  seed,  small.  It  has  been  more  productive  than  the  average  black 
raspberry.  Its  season  is  fully  a  week  earlier  than  Gregg,  and  it  lasts  longer  than  that 
variety.  It  would  be  recommended  for  home  use  or  a  near  market. 

JOHNSON'S  SWEET. — The  plants  seemed  to  be  good  growers  for  the  first  two  or 
three  years,  but  afterwards  they  gradually  died  out  from  no  apparent  cause.  The 
berry  is  of  medium  size,  juicy,  sweetish,  rather  rich;  quality,  very  good.  The  grain 
and  seed  are  of  medium  size.  When  the  plants  first  came  into  bearing  they  seemed 
to  be  very  productive.  The  variety  ought  to  be  of  value  if  frequently  renewed.  Its 
season  is  about  3  days  earlier  than  Gregg,  and  it  lasts  nearly  as  long  as  that  variety. 

NEMAHA. — There  seems  to  be  no  reason  for  classing  this  or  Naomi,  as  we  have 
them,  as  different  from  Gregg. 


1894-]          BLACKBERRIES  AND   RASPBERRIES,  VARIETY   TESTS.  327 

KANSAS. — The  plant  is  a  rank,  strong  grower,  and  has  so  far  been  free  from  dis- 
ease. It  seems  perfectly  hardy.  The  berry  is  large,  firm,  moderately  juicy,  very 
good  in  quality.  The  grain  and  seed  are  large.  Its  season  is  about  a  week  earlier  than 
Gregg,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  productive  varieties.  It  should  have  a  high  rank 
either  for  home  use  or  market  on  account  of  its  appearance,  productiveness,  and  sea- 
son. This  is  a  new  variety  that  seems  to  sustain  the  claims  made  for  it. 

PALMER,  ACME  PALMER. — This  variety  was  sent  out  about  six  years  before  the 
Kansas.  It  is  a  day  or  two  earlier  than  that  variety  and  somewhat  smaller,  but  is 
otherwise  very  similar  to  it.  It  is  one  of  the  best  of  the  early  black  raspberries. 

LOVETT. — A  variety  of  recent  introduction,  it  has  so  far  been  a  complete 
failure. 

MAMMOTH  CLUSTER. — The  plant  is  a  good  grower,  fairly  free  from  disease,  and 
comparatively  hardy.  The  berry  is  small  to  medium  size,  apt  to  be  poorly  filled, 
moderately  juicy,  very  good  in  quality.  The  grain  and  seed  are  of  medium  size.  Its 
season  is  nearly  a  week  earlier  than  Gregg.  It  has  been  a  moderate  bearer.  This  is 
one  of  the  old  varieties  that  are  nearly  superseded  by  newer  and  better  ones. 

PROGRESS. — This  variety  has  not  been  grown  long  enough  to  decide  its  merits, 
but  it  seems  to  give  little  promise.  The  plant  is  a  small  grower,  the  fruit  is  small 
and  not  abundant. 

SPRINGFIELD.— The  plant  is  a  very  weak  grower  and  is  more  subject  to  disease 
than  any  other  variety.  Berry  small,  firm,  not  juicy;  grain  and  seed,  small.  A  shy 
bearer.  Of  no  possible  use  here. 

Red  Varieties. 

BRANDYWINE. — Plant,  not  a  good  grower;  cane,  rather  slender,  about  3  to  3^  ft. 
high,  erect,  yet  when  full  of  fruit  bending  almost  to  the  ground.  The  tips,  at  least, 
are  subject  to  anthracnose.  Berry  large,  slightly  conical,  purplish  red,  juicy,  moder- 
ately firm,  scarcely  of  good  quality;  grain  and  seed,  large.  Clusters,  compact  on  a 
slender,  drooping  stem.  This  is  a  late  variety,  about  with  Cuthbert  in  season,  and 
is  not  a  good  bearer.  It  would  not  be  recommended. 

CAROLINE. — The  plant  is  a  moderate  grower,  2^  to  3  ft.  high,  not  erect;  cane, 
rather  slender,  with  more  spines  than  is  common  to  the  red  raspberry  group;  com- 
paratively free  from  disease.  Berry,  of  medium  size,  yellow,  shaped  like  the  black- 
cap, juicy,  soft,  rather  acid,  of  good  quality;  grain,  large;  seed,  of  medium  size. 
Fruit  cluster,  compact  and  well  filled.  Its  season  is  3  to  4  days  earlier  than  Cuthbert. 
It  has  been  a  fair  bearer  and  seems  hardy,  but  there  are  other  varieties  more  desir- 
able. Yellow  raspberries  are  not  popular. 

CLARKE. — One  of  the  European  red  raspberries.  The  plant  is  a  moderate 
grower;  cane,  rather  slender  and  comparatively  free  from  disease.  The  leaves  are 
subject  to  the  spot  disease  that  takes  most  of  them  off  before  the  middle  of  summer,  and 
by  the  latter  part  of  the  season  the  canes  bear  only  a  small  tuft  of  leaves  at  the  top. 
As  a  result,  the  wood  is  poorly  ripened  and  easily  winter-killed.  The  same  statement 
with  regard  to  disease  of  leaves  would  be  true  for  all  the  European  varieties  tried 
here,  and  the  rest  are  worse  diseased  than  this  one.  Berry,  large,  conical  purple 
when  fully  ripe,  firm,  meaty,  mild  acid,  slight  peach  flavor;  grain,  large;  seed,  large. 
Its  season  is  about  3  to  4  days  earlier  than  the  Cuthbert.  It  might  be  valuable  were 
the  plants  healthy  and  hardy. 

CRIMSON  BEAUTY. — Plant  a  good  grower  and  comparatively  free  from  disease. 
Berry,  large,  round,  bright  crimson;  grain  and  seed  very  large.  Not  more  than  one 
berry  in  a  hundred  is  well  filled;  most  have  but  one  or  two  grains.  Of  no  value. 

CUTHBERT. — Plants  grow  erect  and  strong,  4  to  6  ft.  high,  and  are  usually  com- 
paratively free  from  disease.  Berry,  very  large,  reddish  purple,  oblong,  conical, 
firm,  juicy;  quality,  very  good  but  harsh,  rather  sour;  grain  and  seed,  medium  size, 


328  BULLETIN  NO.  30.  [March, 

This  is  one  of  the  late  red  raspberries,  and  for  a  market  variety  stands  at  the  head  of 
the  list.     It  has  not  been  so  productive  here  as  some  others. 

EARLY  PRIDE  — The  plant  is  a  rather  small  grower;  cane,  slender,  erect,  2l/2  to 
3  ft.  high,  hardy,  and  comparatively  free  from  disease.  The  berry  is  of  medium 
size,  round,  light  red,  rather  soft,  juicy,  very  good  in  quality,  mild,  and  pleasant; 
grain  and  seed,  of  medium  size.  This  is  the  earliest  of  the  red  raspberries,  coming  in 
3  to  4  days  earlier  than  Turner  and  about  10  days  ahead  of  Cuthbert,  being  nearly 
gone  before  the  latter  variety  begins  to  ripen.  It  yields  very  well  and  would  be 
recommended  for  home  use  or  market  to  lengthen  the  season. 

GOLDEN  QUEEN. — This  might  be  described  as  a  yellow  Cuthbert.  The  plant 
scarcely  grows  so  tall  as  the  Cuthbert,  but  the  fruit  is  practically  the  same  in  every 
way  except  color. 

HANSELL,  — The  plant  is  rather  low  growing  and  unless  grown  very  thick  is 
bushy  and  somewhat  slender.  Very  subject  to  anthracnose  in  all  parts  of  the  stem, 
even  the  fruit  stems  and  sometimes  the  fruit  itself  being  attacked.  Berry  of  medium 
size,  round,  reddish  purple,  not  always  well  filled,  juicy;  quality,  very  good;  grain 
and  seed,  large.  Its  season  is  about  two  days  earlier  than  Turner.  It  has  yielded 
fairly  well  so  far,  but,  on  account  of  its  liability  to  disease,  other  varieties  are 
to  be  preferred. 

HORNET,  AND  HUDSON  RIVER  ANTWERP. — The  leaves  have  rusted  and  fallen  off 
so  badly  that  these  varieties  have  been  a  complete  failure. 

HERSTINE. — The  plant  is  a  rather  small,  upright  grower,  2%  to  3  ft.  high, 
hardy;  cane,  somewhat  slender,  bending  down  when  loaded  with  fruit,  comparatively 
free  from  disease.  Berry,  large,  round,  purplish  red,  moderately  firm,  juicy;  quality 
very  good,  acid,  not  harsh;  grain,  large;  seed,  of  medium  size.  Its  season  is  2  to  3 
days  earlier  than  Turner  and  it  bears  fairly  well. 

MARLBORO. — Plant,  a  rather  low  grower;  cane,  stiff  and  erect;  too  much  subject 
to  disease.  The  edges  of  the  leaves  are  curled  down  in  a  way  that  would  distinguish 
the  variety  readily  from  others.  Berry,  very  large,  conical,  pale  red,  firm,  juicy, 
mild,  pleasant,  not  rich  in  quality,  of  fine  appearance;  grain,  large;  seed,  of  medium 
size.  Its  season  is  the  same  as  Turner.  It  is  not  recommended. 

MUSKINGUM. — Plant,  a  medium  grower,  subject  to  anthracnose,  and  not  entirely 
hardy.  Berry,  large,  shaped  like  the  blackcaps,  firm,  purple,  with  a  harshness  that 
is  not  agreeable  to  most  tastes;  grain  and  seed,  large.  Its  season  is  about  the  same 
as  Cuthbert.  Only  moderately  productive.  Not  recommended. 

PHILADELPHIA. — Plant,  a  moderate  grower,  bushy,  hardy,  comparatively  free 
from  disease,  and  seems  to  be  less  influenced  by  drouth  than  most  other  varieties. 
Berry,  rather  small,  reddish  purple,  juicy;  quality,  very  good;  grain  and  seed,  large. 
Its  season  is  the  same  as  Cuthbert.  This  has  been  the  most  productive  variety  grown 
so  far,  but  its  small  size  makes  very  tedious  picking,  and,  on  account  of  its  small  size, 
it  does  not  sell  so  well  as  some  of  the  other  varieties. 

RANCOCOS. — Plant,  a  weak  grower,  very  subject  to  anthracnose,  not  entirely 
hardy;  plants  that  do  live  over  winter,  liable  to  die  before  they  ripen  their  fruit. 
Berry,  reddish  purple,  small,  shatters  to  pieces  easily,  juicy,  harsh.  One  of  the  very 
early  varieties,  but  a  poor  bearer  and  of  no  value  here. 

RELIANCE. — The  plant  is  a  rather  slender  grower,  becoming  thick  and  bushy; 
canes,  fruiting  stems,  and  berries,  apt  to  be  badly  injured  with  anthracnose,  and 
leaves  subject  to  the  spot  disease.  Berry,  medium  to  large,  purple,  round,  moderately 
firm,  juicy,  acid,  rather  harsh  to  the  taste,  would  be  classed  as  good  in  quality;  grain 
and  seed,  large.  Its  season  is  only  a  day  or  two  later  than  the  Turner.  If  plants 
could  be  had  free  from  disease,  it  would  be  a  very  productive  variety;  as  it  is,  we 
could  scarcely  recommend  it. 

SHAFFER'S. — This  variety  is  by  some  considered  as  a  hybrid  between  the  black 
and  red  raspberries  and  by  others  as  the  representative  of  a  distinct  species.  The 


1894-]  RASPBERRIES,   MANAGEMENT.  329 

plant  is  a  very  strong,  upright  grower;  cane,  thickly  covered  with  small  spines,  some- 
what subject  to  anthracnose.  It  has  so  far  been  quite  hardy.  Berry,  very  large, 
rounded,  purple,  downy,  firm,  juicy,  acid,  of  harsh  taste;  quality,  good;  grain,  very 
large;  seeds,  large.  Its  season  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Cuthbert.  It  has  been  very 
productive  and  the  fruit  is  of  fine  appearance,  but  it  is  not  pleasant  to  most  tastes.  It 
would  be  recommended  for  the  sake  of  variety. 

STAYMAN'S  No.  5. — Plant,  of  rather  small  growth,  comparatively  free  from  dis- 
ease Berry,  medium  size,  purple;  grain,  of  medium  size;. seed,  very  large  and  hard, 
Season,  4  to  5  days  after  Cuthbert,  making  it  one  of  the  latest  of  the  red  raspberries. 
It  has  been  so  far  a  very  shy  bearer,  but  may  improve  with  age. 

TURNER. — The  plant  is  one  of  the  strongest  growers  of  the  red  raspberries  and 
more  free  than  any  other  from  disease.  Cane,  3^  to  4^  feet  high,  naturally 
branching  where  thin,  but  where  crowded  growing  up  unbranched  and  slender, hardy. 
Fruit,  where  plants  are  not  too  much  crowded,  is  very  large,  soft,  juicy,  sweet  or  sub- 
acid,  very  pleasant  to  the  taste,  though  not  of  ]iigh  quality;  grain  and  seed,  small. 
This  is  one  of  the  early  varieties,  its  season  being  a  week  to  ten  days  earlier  than 
Cuthbert,  and  it  is  also  one  of  the  most  productive.  It  is  too  soft  to  be  of  value 
for  shipping  and  soon  becomes  unsalable  even  for  home  market  unless  very  carefully 
handled. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  the  newer  varieties,  both  of  black- 
berries and  raspberries,  that  we  have  not  yet  tested  and  among  them  there 
may  be  something  of  more  value  for  some  purposes  than  those  here 
described.  The  standard  varieties  are  standard,  because  they  have  suc- 
cessfully stood  a  long  test  over  a  wide  range  of  country,  and  so  one  can 
make  no  mistake  in  planting  them. 

Of  the  blackberries  which  we  have  grown,  Snyder  still  takes  the 
lead.  Minnewaska  would  rank  second.  It  is  not  so  good  in  quality  as 
the  Snyder  but  it  is  as  productive  and  does  not  seem  so  liable  to  injury 
from  drouth.  For  an  early  variety  Early  king  is  hardier  than  Early 
harvest. 

Of  black  raspberries  the  Kansas,  a  new  variety,  seems  to  stand  at  the 
head,  next  would  come  Gregg  or  Nemaha,  and  Palmer. 

Of  the  red  raspberries  there  is  some  question.  Turner  is  one  of  the 
most  productive,  is  hardy  and  healthy.  The  fruit  has  a  mild,  very  pleas- 
ant taste,  but  it  is  too  soft  for  a  good  market  variety.  The  Cuthbert  is 
healthy  and  nearly  as  hardy,  the  fruit  larger  and  firmer,  but  for  home 
use  the  taste  is  rather  harsh.  Philadelphia  is  very  productive,  healthy 
and  hardy,  the  fruit  smaller  than  that  of  the  other  two  and  too  liable  to 
shatter  in  picking. 

Experiment  No.  52.     Raspberries,  Management. 

In  the  spring  of  1889  an  experiment  was  started  to  determine  some- 
thing of  the  effects  of  cultivation  on  the  productiveness  of  black  rasp- 
berries. For  this  purpose  a  plat  of  Greggs  (eight  rows  sixteen  rods  long) 
was  taken.  These  had  been  planted  about  1882,  and  up  to  that  time  had 
received  only  ordinary  cultivation.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1889  the  four 
rows  on  one  side  of  the  plat  were  set  apart  to  be  kept  thoroughly  culti- 
vated from  the  time  the  ground  was  in  good  condition  until  the  latter 


330  BULLETIN  NO.  30.  [March, 

part  of  August,  when  the  work  would  stop  for  the  sake  of  putting  down 
the  tips.  The  other  four  rows  were  to  be  allowed  to  go  until  after  the 
fruiting  season,  only  having  the  weeds  mowed  off  in  the  meantime,  then 
to  be  thoroughly  cultivated  until  the  end  of  the  season.  This  gave  an 
average  of  about  41^  months  cultivation  for  the  first  four  rows  and  \y2 
months  cultivation  for  the  others.  This  scheme  has  been  carried  out 
with  practical  uniformity  since. 

No  account  had  been  taken  of  the  comparative  yields  of  the  separate 
rows  up  to  this  time,  but  there  had  appeared  to  be  very  little  difference. 
The  yields  for  the  season  of  1889  were,  for  the  four  rows  cultivated 
during  the  whole  season,  287  quarts,  and  for  those  cultivated  only 
during  the  latter  part,  262  quarts.  After  the  fruit  was  gone  the  old 
wood  was  at  once  taken  out.  By  the  time  the  year's  growth  was  com- 
pleted there  was  apparently  little  difference  between  the  rows  cultivated 
all  the  season  and  those  cultivated  the  latter  part  only,  and  after  the 
spring  pruning  had  been  done,  no  difference  could  be  noticed. 

The. crop  in  the  summer  of  1890  was,  for  the  four  rows  cultivated 
all  the  season,  358  quarts,  and  for  the  others,  274  quarts.  At  the  close 
of  the  season  there  was  more  difference  in  favor  of  the  well  cultivated 
rows  than  had  been  seen  the  previous  year,  and  some  difference  could 
be  seen  after  the  spring  pruning. 

The  crop  for  the  season  of  1891  was,  for  the  four  rows  cultivated 
all  the  time,  487^  quarts,  and  for  the  other  four  rows,  2725^  quarts, 
the  difference  in  actual  yield  being  very  much  more  than  the  apparent 
difference  during  the  fruiting  season.  Up  to  this  year  there  had  been 
no  apparent  difference  in  the  size  and  development  of  the  berries,  but 
during  this  season  the  fruit  on  the  well  tended  rows  was  much  finer 
than  on  the  .others. 

The  respective  crops  of  the  four  rows  cultivated  all  the  season,  and 
the  other  four  for  the  summer  of  1892,  were  448  and  244  quarts. 

During  the  summer  of  1892  the  new  canes  did  not  make  so  good  a 
growth  as  they  had  in  previous  years,  and  unfavorable  conditions  later 
destroyed  many  of  the  plants;  those  in  the  four  rows  receiving  the  most 
attention,  being  damaged  the  worst.  As  a  consequence  the  results, 
though  not  contradicting  those  of  previous  years,  would  not  help  them 
out.  The  yields  were  for  the  four  rows  cultivated  all  the  season,  119 
quarts,  and  for  the  others,  117  quarts. 

As  a  total  result  of  this  line  of  work  so  far,  there  would  be  the 
following: 

Four  rows  kept  cultivated  from         Four  rows  cultivated  from  the 
early  spring  until  fall.  time  the  fruit  wasoff  until  fall 

1889 287  262 

1890 358  274 

1891 487*£  272^ 

1892 448  244 

1893 119  117 

Total 1699^ 


1894-*]  RASPBERRIES,  MANAGEMENT.  331 

This  experiment  has  so  far  been  made  to  include  only  the  black 
raspberry;  and  as  it  has  been  conducted  shows  only  the  difference 
between  a  full  season's  culture  and  culture  the  latter  part  of  the  season. 
It  is  probably  safe  to  say  that  the  rows  receiving  the  least  attention  had 
more  cultivation  and  better  than  the  average  of  the  berries  grown  in 
this  locality.  As  a  result  of  the  test  it  is  at  least  safe  to  draw  the  con- 
clusion that  it  would  be  profitable  to  give  the  black  raspberry  much 
better  care  than  it  gets. 

There  is  always  more  or  less  discussion  as  to  whether  or  not  it  is 
best  to  take  out  the  fruiting  wood  from  a  field  of  raspberries  or  black- 
berries as  soon  as  the  crop  is  off.  Our  practice  heretofore  has  been  to 
take  out  the  old  wood  at  once  when  the  last  picking  was  done.  The 
reasons  were  that  as  we  must  hire  the  work  done,  it  was  as  cheap 
doing  it  one  time  as  another,  and  the  clearing  out  improved  the 
appearance.  It  was  supposed  also  that  the  old  canes  would  be  a  detri- 
ment rather  than  an  advantage  to  the  new  ones,  on  account  of  crowding, 
which  would  not  allow  the  plants  to  develop  fully,  and  it  was  also  sup- 
posed that  there  was  no  value  in  the  old  wood  after  the  fruit  was  off. 

As  a  preliminary  test  of  this  point,  a  single  row  16  rods  long  was 
in  1892  left  with  the  old  wood  in,  while  corresponding  rows  on  each 
side  that  appeared  equally  good,  were  cleaned  out  in  the  usual  manner. 
As  a  result  of  the  one  trial  there  is  one  row  in  which  the  old  wood  was 
left  until  spring  (March),  yielding  73  quarts,  and  two  rows,  one  on  each 
side  of  the  preceding-,  from  which  the  old  wood  was  taken  as  soon  as 
the  fruit  was  off  the  previous  year,  yielding  41  and  48  quarts,  respec- 
tively. 

While  this  one  test  is  not  conclusive,  it  points  to  the  probability  that 
it  may  be  better  to  leave  in  the  old  wood  until  the  regular  spring  prun-     V 
ing  than  to  take  it  out  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  gone.     It  might  at  least  pay 
the  raspberry  grower  to  try  to  see  if  the  old,  but  yet  living  canes  are  of 
value  to  the  new  growth. 

G.  W.   McCLUER,  M.  S.,  Assistant  Horticulturist. 


All  communications  intended  for  the  Station  should  be  addressed, 
not  to  any  person,  but  to  the 

AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  CHAMPAIGN,  ILLINOIS. 

The  bulletins  of  the  Experiment  Station  will  be  sent  free  of  all 
charges  to  persons  engaged  in  farming  who  may  request  that  they 
be  sent. 


332  BULLETIN   NO.   30.  [ March,  1 894. 


ORGANIZATION. 


BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

NELSON  W.  GRAHAM,  Carbondale,  President. 

JOHN  P.  ALTGELD,  Springfield,  Governor  of  Illinois. 

DAVID  GORE,   Springfield,  President  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

HENRY  RAAB,  Springfield,  Superintendent  Public  Instruction. 
FRANCIS  M.  McKAY,  Chicago.  ALEXANDER  McLEAN,  Macomb. 

SAMUEL  A.  BULLARD,  Springfield.  RICHARD  P.  MORGAN,  Dwight. 

JOHN  H.  BRYANT,  Princeton.  NAPOLEON  B.  MORRISON,  Odin. 

JAMES.  E.  ARMSTRONG,  Chicago.  ISAAC  S.  RAYMOND,  Sidney. 

BOARD  OF  DIRECTION  OF  THE  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 

GEORGE  E.  MORROW,  A.M.,  Champaign,  Professor  of  Agriculture,  President. 
E.  E.  CHESTER,  Champaign,  of  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

R.  T.  FRY,  Olney,  of  State  Horticultural  Society. 
H.  B.  GURLER,  DeKalb,  of  State  Dairymen's  Association. 

N.  B.  MORRISON,  Odin,  Trustee  of  the  University. 

ISAAC  S.  RAYMOND,  Sidney,  Trustee  of  the  University. 

THOMAS  J.  BURRILL,  PH.D.,  Urbana,  Professor  of  Botany  and  Horticulture. 

STEPHEN  A.  FORBES,  PH.D.,  Urbana,  Professor  of  Zoology. 
EDWARD  H.  FARRINGTON,  M.S.,  Champaign,  Chemist  of  Station. 

THE  STATION  STAFF. 

GEORGE  E.  MORROW,  A.M.,  Agriculturist,  President  of  Board  of  Direction. 

WILLIAM  L.  PILLSBURY,  A.M.,  Champaign,  Secretary. 
THOMAS  J.  BURRILL,  PH.D.,  Horticulturist  and  Botanist. 

EDWARD  H.  FARRINGTON,  M.S.,  Chemist. 
STEPHEN  A.  FORBES,  PH.D.,  Consulting  Entomologist. 

DONALD  McINTOSH,  V.S.,  Consulting  Veterinarian. 

GEORGE  W.  McCLUER,  M.S.,  Assistant  Horticulturist. 

GEORGE  P.  CLINTON,  B.S.,  Assistant  Botanist. 

WILL  A.   POWERS,  B.S.,  Assistant  Chemist. 
FRANK  D.  GARDNER,  B.S.,  Assistant  Agriculturist. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


